UPLINK TIMING CONTROL

• US 20080279131A1
• Filed: 03/18/2008
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Malladi, Durga Prasad, Zhang, Xiaoxia
• Granted Patent: US 8,942,150 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/311
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0248 dependent on the time of the day, e.g. according to expected transmission activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0045 compensating for timing error by altering transmission time
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate evaluating and utilizing timing updates in a wireless communications network. A base station can transmit timing adjustment commands to mobile devices as needed as opposed to a periodic timing update where timing adjustment commands are always sent within a certain period. However, the mobile devices need to stay awake to monitor the timing adjustment message resulting in high power consumption. On the other hand with periodic update, the mobile devices can wake up to check whether there is a timing adjustment for itself and, if not, return to a sleep mode. With the proposed method, a mobile device can sleep for a period of time to check for timing adjustment commands upon waking. Thus, both the mobile power consumption and downlink signaling overhead are reduced.

Claims

1. A method for acquiring a time adjustment, comprising:

entering a sleep mode;

waking from the sleep mode after a predetermined period of time passes;

determining whether a timing adjustment command issues;

adjusting uplink timing based at least in part on the issued timing adjustment command; and

reentering the sleep mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the predetermined period of time.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising signaling uplink information.

4. The method of claim 3, signaling uplink information occurs upon waking from the sleep mode.

5. The method of claim 3, signaling uplink information occurs prior to entering the sleep mode.

6. The method of claim 3, signaling uplink information occurs while in the sleep mode.

7. The method of claim 3, the uplink information provides an uplink timing.

8. The method of claim 1, determining whether a timing adjustment command issues comprises reading a downlink physical channel.

9. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that retains instructions related to sleeping until a timer expires, waking after the timer expires, assessing if a timing adjustment command issues and adjusting uplink timing based at least in part on the issued command; and

a processor coupled to the memory configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory.

10. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 9, the memory further retains instructions related to selecting the predetermined period of time.

11. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 9, the memory further retains instructions related to signaling uplink information.

12. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 11, the uplink information provides uplink timing.

13. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 9, instructions related to determining whether a timing adjustment command issues comprise instructions related to reading a downlink physical channel.

14. A wireless communications apparatus that facilitates conserving power when acquiring a time adjustment, comprising:

means fur entering a sleep mode;

means for waking from the sleep mode after a predetermined period of time passes;

means for determining whether a timing adjustment command issues;

means for adjusting uplink timing based at least in part on the issued timing adjustment command; and

means for reentering the sleep mode.

15. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 14, further comprising means for selecting the predetermined period of time.

16. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 14, further comprising means for signaling uplink in formation.

17. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16, the signaling uplink information occurs upon waking from the sleep mode.

18. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16, signaling uplink information occurs prior to entering the sleep mode.

19. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16, signaling uplink information occurs while in the sleep mode.

20. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 16, the uplink information provides an uplink timing.

21. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 14, means for determining whether a timing adjustment command issues comprises means for reading a downlink physical channel.

22. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for entering a sleep mode;

code for waking from the sleep mode after a predetermined period of time passes;

code for determining whether a timing adjustment command issues;

code for adjusting uplink timing based at least in part on the issued timing adjustment command; and

code for reentering the sleep mode.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, further comprising code for selecting the predetermined period of time.

24. The computer program product of claim 22, further comprising code for signaling uplink information.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, code for signaling uplink information occurs upon waking from the sleep mode.

26. The computer program product of claim 24, code for signaling uplink information occurs prior to entering the sleep mode.

27. The computer program product of claim 24, code for signaling uplink information occurs while in the sleep mode.

28. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein the uplink information provides an uplink timing.

29. The computer program product of claim 22, code for determining whether a timing adjustment command issues comprise instruction for reading a fast physical access channel.

30. In a wireless communication system, an apparatus comprising:

an integrated circuit configured to;

place the apparatus in a sleep mode;

wake the apparatus from the sleep mode after a predetermined period of time passes;

determine whether a timing adjustment command issues; and

adjust uplink timing based at least in part on the issued timing adjustment command.

31. A method for updating timing, comprising:

receiving a transmission from at least one waking mobile device that provides uplink information;

determining whether at least one waking mobile device requires a timing update based upon the received transmission;

evaluating a timing adjustment for the at least one waking mobile device; and

issuing a timing adjustment command to the at least one waking mobile device.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising comparing local reference timing with timing of the received transmission to ascertain a difference in timing.

33. The method of claim 32, evaluating a timing adjustment comprises generating at timing adjustment command that accounts for the difference in timing.

34. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that retains instructions related to receiving a transmission from at least one waking mobile device that provides uplink information, determining whether at least one waking mobile device requires a timing update based upon the received transmission, evaluating a timing adjustment for the at least one waking mobile device; and

issuing a timing adjustment command to the at least one waking mobile device; and

a processor coupled to the memory configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory.

35. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 34, the memory further instructions related to comparing local reference timing with timing of the received transmission to ascertain a difference in timing.

36. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 35, the instructions related to evaluating a timing adjustment comprise instructions related to generating at timing adjustment command that accounts for the difference in timing.

37. A wireless communications apparatus that facilitates updating timing with reduced overhead, comprising:

means for receiving a transmission from at least one waking mobile device that provides uplink information;

means for determining whether at least one waking mobile device requires a timing update based upon the received transmission;

means for evaluating a timing adjustment for the at least one waking mobile device; and

means for issuing a timing adjustment command to the at least one waking mobile device.

38. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 37, further comprising means fur comparing local reference timing with timing of the received transmission to ascertain a difference in timing.

39. The method of claim 38, means for evaluating a timing adjustment comprises means for generating at timing adjustment command that accounts for the difference in timing.

40. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for receiving a transmission from at least one waking mobile device that provides uplink information;

code for determining whether at least one waking mobile device requires a timing update based upon the received transmission;

code for evaluating a timing adjustment for the at least one waking mobile device; and

code for issuing a timing adjustment command to the at least one waking mobile device.

41. The computer program product of claim 40, further comprising code for comparing local reference timing with timing of the received transmission to ascertain a difference in timing.

42. The computer program product of claim 41, code for evaluating a timing adjustment comprise instructions for generating at timing adjustment command that accounts for the difference in timing.

43. In a wireless communication system, an apparatus comprising:

an integrated circuit configured to;

receive a transmission from at least one waking mobile device that provides uplink information;

determine whether at least one waking mobile device requires a timing update based upon the received transmission;

evaluate a timing adjustment for the at least one waking mobile device; and

issue a timing adjustment command to the at least one waking mobile device.